Buying My First Newer Camaro
 

Hey there folks. I'm looking to buy my first newer (1990-Newer) car. My first Camaro was a '78 Z/28, and all my other cars are pre-1990 ('84 SS Monte Carlo, '73 Delta 88, '75 Silverado). The car I'm looking at is a '99 Camaro. It's a base model 3.8 V6, automatic, T-Tops. I'd buy an LT1 350 but I'm trying to stay economical (with the price of the car and the gas mileage). What I'd like your help on is determining if the car is worth the money. The car is going for $4,900 at a small local lot. The owner seems like he'll come down to around $4,000. The car runs fine, but has been re-painted atleast once, and may have body work in the drivers quarter panel (I found some sandscratch swelling that looked like 80 or 180 grit.). The only paint problems are under the passengers window where the clearcoat is beginning to peel (my guess would be no UV protectant in the clear). Other than that the body is in fine shape. What I'd like to know is if any of you know of common problems these cars have, mainly with the drivetrain, and electrical systems. Body and paint work I can do myself, but mechanical on these newer cars is a little out of my league. Thanks for your help.

RE: Buying My First Newer Camaro
 

if its been painted id be kinda afraid if its been wrecked, especially for 4K, cheapest i found at dealers is around the 5K mark and cheapest for private is around the 4600 mark in good condition, if i where you id check body lines, make sure they are all pretty even all the way around the car, if there not even (im thinkin the body lines, like where the door closes make sure the bottom gap is same disatance apart at the bottom as the top, same wth the hood and the trunk etc, but if you know what a paint wooden stir stick is,use the thickness of the stick,thats about how wide the gaps are suppose to be) if there not even i wouln\dnt get it, cuz its prob been wrecked

RE: Buying My First Newer Camaro
 

a nice easy way to determine of its been wrecked is to do a carfax.....justget the VIN number and it costs like $20 for unlimited carfaxs for a month. Its definitly worth it. I did it bwefore i bopught my camaro. Turns out the first 2 camaros i looked at were wrecked or something like that. Just do a carfax, its easier.

RE: Buying My First Newer Camaro
 

I would get it, $4,000-$5,000 is a steal for a 99 with t-tops. I bought my '02 35th anniv with t-tops and tinted windows for $10,000 a few months ago. If you pay attention to 99+ Camaros, you don't find them very often for that price range.

RE: Buying My First Newer Camaro
 

I have a 2000 V6 and it has been wrecked. It was only a fender-bender, but i had no idea until i got a car fax report. If .things are good definately get it, 4k is a great price, but watch that paint man, before you know it your gona end up having to get a paint job again. My clear coat was coming off where my hood met the bumper, i got my sisters red nail pollish and dabbed it on, cant even tell now lol.

RE: Buying My First Newer Camaro
 

Shop around, you can get a real nice 6 speed with a 5.7L for 6k or so (estimating), you might have some minor problems, but hey,the V6 is just as economal as the V8 if you drive it right.